We've updated our recipe for potato skins with our favorite ingredients du jour, making them bigger and more indulgent... yet still guilt-free. As for T.G.I. Friday's? Their skins are as fatty as ever -- our swap rules!

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray and set aside.

Pierce potatoes several times with a fork, and place on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave for 5 minutes, until potatoes begin to soften.

Carefully turn potatoes over, and microwave for 5 - 8 minutes, until soft on all sides.

Once cool enough to handle, cut potatoes in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to gently scoop out the bulk of the inside flesh, leaving about 1/4 inch inside the skin. (Save the scooped potato flesh for another use.) Place the empty potato shells on the baking sheet.

Bake in the oven until crispy, 12 - 15 minutes. Then remove from the oven, but leave the oven on.

Meanwhile, prepare bacon in a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray or on a microwave-safe plate in the microwave. (Refer to package instructions for exact cook time and temperature.) Once cool enough to handle, chop or crumble and set aside.

Evenly distribute cheese and bacon among the potato skins. Return to the oven and bake until cheese has melted, about 2 minutes.

Immediately sprinkle with scallions and serve with sour cream for dipping. YUM!

It's one of the most popular appetizers served at casual restaurants and sports bars across the country -- potato skins. And why wouldn't it be? Crispy potatoes covered in cheese and bacon, with sour cream for dipping... The only thing wrong with this picture is, well, the massive calorie count that comes along with a platter of loaded skins. Just because it's popular doesn't mean it's smart, people. (We learned that in high school!) One of the worst examples we've come across is this version from T.G.I. Friday's -- an order packs over 2,000 calories! If you split it five ways, you're eating more than 400 calories BEFORE your meal arrives. Not cool. Invite some pals over and make our version instead -- you'll be able to indulge safely and intelligently without ignoring your cravings. Reduced-fat cheese, light sour cream, fat-slashed bacon... Perfection! Just a warning, though -- everyone's gonna wanna go to YOUR house for happy hour...

For links in this email, please go to:
http://www.hungry-girl.com/chew/show/2113
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CHEW ON THIS:
Happy National Taco Day, otherwise known as October 4th. We LOVE tacos at the HG HQ, so check out a couple of fun recipes from earlier this year -- YUMMMM!

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